Sterile container and ligature package



Aug. 6, 1957 R. B. HARKNss ETAL STERILE CONTAINER AND LIGATURE PACKAGE Filed Aug. 16. 1954 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. B. HARKNEss ETAL 2,801,741 STERILE CONTAINER AND LIGATURE PACKAGE Filed Aug. 1s, 1954 Aug. e, 1957 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Utilice 2,801,741 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 STERILE CONTAINER AND LIGATURE `PACKAGE Reed B. Harkness, University City, and Eleanor E. Lacey, St. Louis, Mo., assignors `to The C. Dewitt Lukens Surgical Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, M0., a corporation of Missouri Application August 16, 1954, Serial No. 449,965

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-63.'3)

This invention .relates to sterile containers, fand more i particularly to single-use ligature tube containers enabling transfer `of a sterile ligature itube from an Lunsterile onto a sterile field.

This application is a continuation-in-part of ourcopending application entitled 4Ligature Tube Container, Serial No. 356,762, filed May 22, v1953,issued Patent 2,788,893, April 16, 1957.

Among the Vseveral objects of the invention may be noted the provision of improved sterile containers, and particularly ligature tube containers of the class described; the provision of containers of this class with a special seal which, once broken, provides a positiveindication that the container .has` been opened and "thus possibly rendered unsterile; the provision of a container of this class with a seal the broken condition of which may be readily detected either by feel or by eye; and the pro'- vision of a seal such as described which is `economical to apply. Otherobjects and features will be `in 4part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordinglylcomprises theconstructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention -being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a ligature tube container of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross section of Fig. 1, and broken away adjacent the center;

Fig. 3 is a perspective `of a cap per se of .the container;

Fig. 4 is a view showing a mode of removing the cap;

Fig. 5 is a view showing how the ligature tube is dispensed from the receptacle;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of another form of ligature tube container of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross section taken 'on line 8-8 of Fig. 6, and,

Fig. 9 is an exploded View similar to Fig. 6 showing a cap of the container removed.

Corresponding reference characters-indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1-5 of the drawings, a ligature tube container of our invention is shown to comprise an elongate generally cylindrical receptacle `1 closed at one end as indicated at 3, and open at its other. The open mouth end of the receptacle is indicated at 5. The receptacle .1 is preferably made of a transparent plastic material, with a thin flexible wall. Its inside diameter `is somewhat greater than that of the ligature tube 7 packaged therein, and its length is somewhat greater than that of the tube. The ligature tube 7 is a conventional rounded- :end glass ligature tube in which is sealed a ligature 9. A quantity of asepticizing uid 11 may be sealed in the Vligature tube to insure sterile conditions within the tube. It will `be understood that in some instances theligature is sealed in the tube 7 without asepticizing fluid. The receptacle 1 is closed by a cap 13 slidably telescoped `on the receptacle `at its open end, the ligature tube 7 being sealed in the capped receptacle -with the outside surface fof the tube, the inside of theY receptacle, and the inside of the cap at the open end of the receptacle in sterile condition, without anylasepticizing fluid inthe receptacle.

The cap 13 isV preferably molded of a. plastic material. .As shown, it has a` cylindrical skirt .15 having a `close sliding fit `on the outside of `the receptacle, with "an integral .longitudinal extension 17 'from the skirt of less than semicylindrical form. Reinforcing ribs 18 extend lengthwisecf thecap and the extension.` At its end, the extension 17 has an outwardly projecting bead `19. A tapered nose 21 extends from the head 23 of the cap into the `receptacle 1, there being an annular groove 25 between the nose and `the skirt 15 receiving the mouth end of the receptacle. This end of the receptacle is tightly received in `the Vbottom of the groove 25. The `nose acts to reinforce the mouth end of the flexiblewalled `receptacle f1, :and prevents breaking of the seal between the cap and vthe receptacle by preventing d'e- .formation of the 4mouth end `of thereceptacle. In the end of the nose is `a `recess 27 adaptedto accommodate the Vadjacent roundedend `ofthe ligature tube 7. After the tube 7 has been .insertedin the receptacle 1 andthe latter `capped `underthe sterile conditions above mentioned, the .capped` endiof the `receptacle is sealed as by a coating 29 of any suitable sealing material, preferably a transparent sealing material. Coating 29 terminates short of the end of the extension 17.

The extension 17 is provided with an integral laterally projecting tlexible elongated ringer 31 toward its end. This finger is constituted by an integral part of the cap. After the ligature tube has been sealed in the receptacle 1 as above described, a spot of a colored adhesive 4is applied `to the receptacle over the finger as indicated at 33. In accordance with this invention, receptacle 1 and the cap 13 are made of different materials, and the adhesive used at 33 is such as to adhere tightly to the material of the receptacle but not to the material ofthe cap. Accordingly,` `the linger lies within a recess in the ad hesive and is withdrawable from the recess by reason of the nonadherence of the adhesive to the linger. Further, the adhesive 33, while of aidiiferent color than Veither 1 or 31, is so composed that it will not color the finger 31, leaving it a contrasting color to the spot 33. An important advantage of this combination is that the adhesive 33 does not break olf or splinter in any Way, with possible resultant contamination ofthe sterile area. The finger slides loose; it does not break. The receptacle may be made of cellulose acetatebutyrate, the cap of polyethylene, and the adhesive. used at 33 may be a composition comprising a base consisting of 20% by weight of vinyl chloride-acet`ate copolymer, 5% by weight of `dioctyl phthalate, 371/2% by weight of me'thyl isobutyl ketone, 371/2% by weight of toluene, and a pigment such as turkey red oil or sudan green in suitable amount. With the spot of adhesive 33 adhered to the receptacle '1, but `not to the nger 31, when the cap v13 is pushed toward the end `of the receptacle the `tinger 31 slides out of the spot 33 substantially clean, leavingthe spot 33 on `the receptacle. If the cap is pushed back on `the receptacle, the

Y 3 finger overlies'the spot, free of the receptacle. Further, it'cannot be retted into the original position. The user may inspect the container by feeling the finger 31 to determine whether it is free, or by eye to see if the finger is clean, thus to determine Whether the container has been opened and the ligature tube 7 thereby rendered possibly unsterile. The adhesive 33 sticks and cannot liy loose onto the sterile field.

The above-described construction is such as to hold the ligature tube 7 sealed in the capped receptacle under sterile conditions during storage and shipment and until `the time of use at the operating table, or sterile field. VWhen a ligature is needed at the operating table, the at- `tendant (such as the unsterile nurse) simply takes up the container in one hand as illustrated in Fig. 4. The attendant first determines whether the container is sealed as by sliding the thumb over the nger 31 to determine Whether the finger is sealed down by spot 33, or free. If the finger is free, the attendant is immediately apprised ythat the ligature tube is possibly unsterile, and discards the container and the tube. Assuming that the container is sealed, the attendant holds it inthe upwardly inclined `position shown in Fig. 4, and, applying the tip of the thumb to the bead 19 at the end of extension 17, slides the cap 13 (but keeps control of it) toward the end of the receptacle with the thumb to the point where the cap, when yreleased by the thumb, will drop off the end of the receptacle. The attendant holds the receptacle (and keeps control of the cap with the thumb) in the Fig. 4 position f over a point for disposal of the cap, and releases the cap to yallow'it `to drop off the end of the receptacle. 'I'he cap linherently tilts with respect to the receptacle, as shown in dotted lines at A in Fig. 4, before it ydrops off the end of 4the receptacle. This tilting occurs by reason of the provision of extension 17, with the extension being free to tilt away from the container since it is of less than semi- 'cylindrical form. Then, as shown'in Fig. 5 the recepskirt of the cap were not provided with the extension 17) v 'insures against contamination of the lip of the receptacle by the act of removing the cap. No portion of the cap which might be contaminated comes into contact withthe -lip of the receptacle, and hence transfer of contamination Ifrom the cap to the lip of the receptacle (from whence lit might be picked up by the tube 7 as the latter slides out of the receptacle) is avoided. Thus, even though the v4container may be highly contaminated on the outside, the ligature tube may be readily dispensed by a simple onehand operation with assurance that the tube is delivered ,in sterile condition. The containers may be cheaply transported (since they eliminate any necessity for having the -ligature tubes immersed in an asepticizing storing fluid), rand may even be carried in the pocket or military service lkits, Without precluding the possibility of dispensing "sterile ligature tubes. Assurance that the container has -not been opened (deliberately or inadvertently) and hence that the ligature tube is sterile is obtained by pro- '.'vision of the finger 31 and spot of adhesive 33.

` Figs. 6-9 illustrate another form of ligature tube con- .tainerof this invention comprising an elongate generally cylindrical receptacle 41 similar to the receptacle 1 de- :s'cribed above, with the exception that the receptacle 41 fis provided at its open "end with external part-threads on :opposite sides Vas indicated at S43. A cap indicated at 45 :has internal part-threads 47 at opposite sides cooperable I withthe part-.threads 43: on the receptacle 41 for posictiivelyilocking th'ecap on thereceptacle, and permitting the cap to be pushed off the receptacle upon turning the cap to disengageg the part-threads. The positive lock is desirable in cases Where the containers may be subjected to severe handling, as, for example, When parachuted from aircraft. A ligature tube 7 is sealed in the capped receptacle under the same conditions as described above. The cap may be provided with laterally projecting bosses 49 to facilitate pushing it off the receptacle with the thumb. The receptacle 41 and the cap 45 are made of different plastics like the receptacle 1 and cap 13 above described. 'the cap 45 is provided with an integral axially extending exible finger 51 which extends on the outside of the receptacle 41. A spot of adhesive 53 corresponding to the spot 33 above described is applied to the receptacle over the finger 51. In this case, when the cap is turned, the finger pulls lout of the spot 53 substantially clean, in the same manner as the finger 31 comes out of the spot 33.

In View of the above, it AWill be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope ol' the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limit ing sense.

" We claim:

l. A sterile container comprising a receptacle and a Iremovable closure for the receptacle, the receptacle and tacle, and a spot of adhesive applied to the receptacle over they finger, the ladhesive being adherent to the receptacle but not the finger, the finger lying within a recess lin the adhesive and being withdrawable from the recess by reason of the nonadherence of the adhesive to the finger.

2. In combination, an elongatel generally cylindrical plasticV receptacle, said receptacle being adapted to be held "in the hand and being closed at one end and open at the other, a cap made of a diiferent plastic slidably telescoped on the receptacle at its open end, the cap having a skirt 'which-has a close sliding fit on the exterior of the receptacle, and a longitudinal extension from the skirt of iless than semicylindrical form for engagement by the 'thumb of thehand to pushthe cap off the receptacle, and

a ligature tube having a ligature sealed therein, said tube Ibeing sealed in the capped receptacle with the outside surface of the tube, the inside surface of receptacle and the inside of the ycap'which is exposed interiorly to the receptacle in sterile condition, the cap having a flexible elongated finger constituted by an integral part of the `made of a flexible plastic closed at one end and open at the other, said receptacle having external part-threads on -opposite sides at its open end, a cap made of a different 'plastichaving internal part-threads at opposite sides cooperable with the partathreads on the receptacle and -threaded thereon, and a ligature tube having a ligature .sealed therein, said tube being sealed in the capped receptacle with the outside surface of the tube, the inside f surface of the receptacle and the inside of the cap at the l'open end of the receptacle in sterile condition, the receptacle and the cap being made of different materials,

the cap having a exible elongated finger constituted by an integral part of the cap projecting therefrom on the .outside of the receptacle, anda spot of colored adhesive 5 applied to the receptacle over the finger, the adhesive being adherent to the receptacle but not the nger, the finger lying within a recess in the adhesive and being withdrawable from the recess by reason of the non-adherence of the adhesive to the nger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS d Musso Jan. 28, 1913 Bellows June 14, 1932 Rhodes Aug. 30, 1932 Kernahan July 5, 1938 Rehfeld Sept. 9, 1941 Blank Jan. 18, 1949 Krasberg Sept. 27, 1949 Hill Aug. 12, 1952 Williams Oct. 14, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 3, 1930 

